Woman abducted, found dead

Published: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 11:21 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 11:21 a.m.

CORRECTED

BELLE ROSE — The body of an 84-year-old Belle Rose woman abducted from her home a day earlier during a suspected burglary was found in an Iberville Parish bayou Monday, authorities said.

Anna Mae Hidalgo was found about 12:30 p.m. in the Rocky Canal off Myles Road by a State Police helicopter surveying the area, authorities said. Deputies said they believe she died from some sort of blunt-force trauma to the head, and the death is being investigated as a homicide.

Police said they found “obvious signs of a struggle” at her home, 7515 La. 1. Her 2005 Chevrolet Impala was found abandoned Sunday in the woods near her house.

“Some valuables were touched and possibly taken, but we are still sorting it out with the family,” Assumption Sheriff Mike Waguespack said. “We are not sure what the primary motive is at this point.”

Six potential suspects have been interviewed, including a few who live near the stretch of La. 1 that is home to multiple members of the Hidalgo family, Waguespack said. No arrests have been made.

Collected evidence was sent to the State Police Crime Lab which should help hone in on a suspect, Waguespack said. “It's going to take some time.”

Family members last spoke to Hidalgo on Saturday, police said. It's believed that she was taken sometime between Saturday night and about dawn Sunday.

Police, family and friends started searching for her on Sunday after finding signs of a struggle at her home. Her 2005 Chevrolet Impala, with traces of blood inside, were found abandoned late Sunday in the woods not far from her home, police have said.

Anna Mae was the widow of State Trooper Lloyd Hidalgo Sr., who retired in the 1970s and died in 2008, Waguespack said.

This is Assumption Parish's first homicide since May 23, when Gary LeBlanc walked into the Napoleonville bar where Jennifer LeBlanc, his estranged wife, worked and fatally shot her before killing himself.

“You see all this kind of stuff on TV, but it's rough when you see somebody you know,” said 53-year-old Barbara Thibodeaux, the longtime companion of Hidalgo's brother, J.P. Martin.

Thibodeaux said she always considered Hidalgo her true sister-in-law, even though she never married Hidalgo's brother.

While many friends and family declined to speak Monday afternoon, those who did said they want to continue remembering Hidalgo as young in spirit and unwilling to slow down.

“She could do anything a young person could do,” Thibodeaux said.

Hidalgo prided herself in having a clean home, Thibodeaux said, and loved to show it off. Hidalgo went to the casino about once a month, Thibodeaux said, to play the Double Diamond slot machine, her favorite.

Thibodeaux said she last saw Hidalgo two weeks ago, but spoke to her Thursday. She said they talked about bargains at the grocery.

Hidalgo was a great cook, Thibodeaux said, and enjoyed cooking for guests.

“She would cook gumbo and loved eating gumbo,” Thibodeaux said. “If she would go eat out, she would have to have a cup of gumbo.”

Staff Writer Eric Heisig can be reached at 857-2202 or eric.heisig@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @TerrebonneCrime.

CORRECTION: This article has been edited to reflect the following correction. Hidalgo's killing is the first in Assumption since May 23, when Jennifer LeBlanc was shot to death by her estranged husband, Gary LeBlanc, who then killed himself.

<p>CORRECTED</p><p>BELLE ROSE — The body of an 84-year-old Belle Rose woman abducted from her home a day earlier during a suspected burglary was found in an Iberville Parish bayou Monday, authorities said.</p><p>Anna Mae Hidalgo was found about 12:30 p.m. in the Rocky Canal off Myles Road by a State Police helicopter surveying the area, authorities said. Deputies said they believe she died from some sort of blunt-force trauma to the head, and the death is being investigated as a homicide.</p><p>Police said they found “obvious signs of a struggle” at her home, 7515 La. 1. Her 2005 Chevrolet Impala was found abandoned Sunday in the woods near her house.</p><p>“Some valuables were touched and possibly taken, but we are still sorting it out with the family,” Assumption Sheriff Mike Waguespack said. “We are not sure what the primary motive is at this point.”</p><p>Six potential suspects have been interviewed, including a few who live near the stretch of La. 1 that is home to multiple members of the Hidalgo family, Waguespack said. No arrests have been made.</p><p>Collected evidence was sent to the State Police Crime Lab which should help hone in on a suspect, Waguespack said. “It's going to take some time.”</p><p>Family members last spoke to Hidalgo on Saturday, police said. It's believed that she was taken sometime between Saturday night and about dawn Sunday.</p><p>Police, family and friends started searching for her on Sunday after finding signs of a struggle at her home. Her 2005 Chevrolet Impala, with traces of blood inside, were found abandoned late Sunday in the woods not far from her home, police have said.</p><p>Anna Mae was the widow of State Trooper Lloyd Hidalgo Sr., who retired in the 1970s and died in 2008, Waguespack said.</p><p>This is Assumption Parish's first homicide since May 23, when Gary LeBlanc walked into the Napoleonville bar where Jennifer LeBlanc, his estranged wife, worked and fatally shot her before killing himself.</p><p>“You see all this kind of stuff on TV, but it's rough when you see somebody you know,” said 53-year-old Barbara Thibodeaux, the longtime companion of Hidalgo's brother, J.P. Martin.</p><p>Thibodeaux said she always considered Hidalgo her true sister-in-law, even though she never married Hidalgo's brother.</p><p>While many friends and family declined to speak Monday afternoon, those who did said they want to continue remembering Hidalgo as young in spirit and unwilling to slow down.</p><p>“She could do anything a young person could do,” Thibodeaux said.</p><p>Hidalgo prided herself in having a clean home, Thibodeaux said, and loved to show it off. Hidalgo went to the casino about once a month, Thibodeaux said, to play the Double Diamond slot machine, her favorite.</p><p>Thibodeaux said she last saw Hidalgo two weeks ago, but spoke to her Thursday. She said they talked about bargains at the grocery.</p><p>Hidalgo was a great cook, Thibodeaux said, and enjoyed cooking for guests.</p><p>“She would cook gumbo and loved eating gumbo,” Thibodeaux said. “If she would go eat out, she would have to have a cup of gumbo.”</p><p><i>Staff Writer Eric Heisig can be reached at 857-2202 or eric.heisig@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @TerrebonneCrime.</i></p><p></p><p>CORRECTION: This article has been edited to reflect the following correction. Hidalgo's killing is the first in Assumption since May 23, when Jennifer LeBlanc was shot to death by her estranged husband, Gary LeBlanc, who then killed himself.</p>